Last time I checked Ortho Max was a bifenthrin based insecticide product.

So, our logical next question should be (choose which is best for you):

> What is bifenthrin?
Bifenthrin is a broad spectrum synthetic pyrethroid insecticide that may be used to kill/control broad number of insect pests. It can also be useful in controlling certain non-insect species such as spider mites on plants and other critters. FMC launched bifenthrin years ago and it has been a widely used insecticide active ingredient. it is no off patent and may be found in many products.

> Does bifenthrin kill bed bugs?
Like all general use products, bifenthrin is able to kill a number of insect pests. Depending on the exact product formulation and product label that you have, you may find that bed bugs are on the label of the product or not. One of FMC's latest products is a combination product which includes bifenthrin and this product is labeled for use against bed bugs. Practially speaking I would expect that bifenthrin products applied directly to bed bugs would kill them.

> Another practical question is what retail products kill bed bugs?
Hmmm ! Even though many retail products may have bed bugs on their label, this does not necessarily make then your best product selection. As an example, avoid the use of bed bug total release foggers ! This is so because the falling fog mist will not contact hidden bed bugs and the surfaces within your home are treated indiscriminantly. Many active ingredients are able to kill bed bugs but what products that are available on the retail shelves and which of these actually have bed bugs on their label may vary with what products are available to the professional.

> Remember, often times HOW the product is used vs. which product is used is much more important?
We need to make sure that we are treating the areas where the bed bugs are hiding and travel in order to make an effective application. For example: an application made to the kitchen is not going to kill bed bugs in the bed room. And, an application made to the back of the head board is not going to kill the bed bugs hiding in the frame of the bed.

There is residual data on bifenthrin and it should be good on contact however, a significant consideration is the use directions that appears on the actual product label. Products available on the retail market may have the same active ingredient that is effective against bed bugs in other formulations but may not have bed bugs on the retail product label of that product.

Remember, residual efficacy can require long term exposure which is why it is important to apply to the harborage locations where bed bugs hide such that they will have long term exposure to the insecticide.

What is needed is a chart that clearly indicates what's in which product for all the products. And, as you noted, some manufacturers may use the "technical name" of the AI making it difficult for folks to figure out "what's what".

There's a very big discussion on this topic (click the ortho home defense max tag above to
find it). It consists of some very enthusiastic consumers who think the stuff is the Holy Grail, and experts, PCOs, and new experienced Bedbugers who are much more cautious.

Following label instructions is crucial if you want/need to do your own treatment. Knowing how to apply products and where is maybe even more important than what is applied.

Once again, it is often much more important how a product is used than which product is used (of course we're assuming that the product in question would actually kill bed bugs when making this statement). pb